HARDY BULBS AND TUBERS. 
Allium. — A genus of bulbous rooted plants of the Onion 
tribe and belonging to the Lily family (Liliaceae). In most 
of the species the foliage when bruised has an unpleasant 
smell. A few of the species are, however, very pretty and 
worthy of culture on the rockery, in the border, or for natu- 
ralising in woodlands and copses. Ordinary soil will suit 
their requirements. Plant the bulbs 4in. apart and the same 
in depth in September or October. Left to themselves they 
will multiply and thrive for many years. Good kinds for 
general culture are A. azureum, blue ; A. Moly, yellow ; A. 
roseum, rose; A neapolitanum), white; and A. narcissiflorum 
(Syn. A. pedemontanum), rosy-purple. All flower in summer 
and are readily increased by seeds or offsets. Natives of 
Europe and Siberia. 
Alstrosmorla (Herb Lily). — This genus belongs to 
the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae), and constitutes a very 
showy and handsome class of hardy border flowers. They 
have tuberous roots, grow from 2 to 3ft. high, and bear very 
pretty variously-tinted flowers throughout the summer. No 
difficulty will be experienced in growing these charming plants 
by those who possess a deep sandy soil, but where the soil is 
of a heavy or damp nature it will be needful to prepare a 
special bed. In this case choose a sunny sheltered corner, or 
a border at the base of a south wall, and dig out the soil to a 
depth of at least 3ft., then put in 6in. of brick rubble to serve 
as drainage, and cover this with a layer of partly decomposed 
manure. Fill the remaining space with a compost of equal 
parts peat, leaf-mould, and sandy loam. Let the bed remain 
for a week or so to settle down, then plant the tuberous roots 
a foot apart and 6in. deep October is a good time to plant. 
Where the soil is naturally sandy in texture, simply trench it 
three spits deep, and mix plenty of decayed cow manure with 
it. Subsequent cultural details consist of mulching the surface 
of the bed freely in autumn with decayed manure, and giving 
plenty of water in dry weather. Unless seed is required, the 
dead flowers should be removed directly they fade. The 
growths should on no account be cut off till they are quite 
dead. Alstrcemerias are easily reared from seed. Prepare the 
bed as advised, f hen sow the seeds in groups of three or four 
seeds 3m. deep as soon as ripe or the following March. Seeds 
may also be sown three or four in a 4-in. pot of sandy soil, 
